Fochville - Thousands of striking mineworkers were gathered
on a hill at the Mponeng mine outside Fochville in the North West on Wednesday.
The workers were attending a mass meeting at the AngloGold
Ashanti [JSE:ANG] gold mine. They have been on strike since September 25 for
better wages.
A worker's representative, Tshepo Motloi, said on Monday
that one of the miners' representatives was arrested for incitement.
Six workers were arrested on Friday for public violence.
"What public violence?" he asked.
"They say they burnt people's car(s). No cars were
burnt."
The men appeared in Fochville Magistrate's Court on Friday
afternoon and were released to appear again on November 16.
Motloi said seven more people were arrested on Saturday for
the same charge. They appeared in court on Monday and were released on R1 000
bail each.
One man still remained in jail as the workers tried to
collect his bail, Motloi said.
As the workers waited for the meeting to start they sang and
danced. Some were carrying sticks and pipes.
There was a strong police and security presence at the
bottom of the hill. A helicopter was circling the hilltop.